IPL teams under scanner over 'service tax evasion'

NEW DELHI: After the Income Tax department asked for over Rs 600 crore from the Indian cricket board (BCCI) as tax, the service tax department, another arm of the finance ministry, has slapped as many as 32 showcause notices on Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises for alleged duty evasion to the tune of nearly Rs 64 crore.

The total collection of service tax by the department during the third season of IPL was Rs 29 crore. This was almost half of what it was during IPL-2 which was held in South Africa. In the second season of IPL, the service tax collection was Rs 64 crore. The total collection made by service tax authorities in the first season was only Rs 81 lakh.

While investigative agencies are yet to conclude probe on the remittances and shareholding pattern of these franchises, the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) constituted a team to review payments received from IPL on suspicion of evasion. Commissioners in different zones were asked to look into the accounts of these franchises and seek details of their earnings and expenditure.

Sources said service tax authorities in Bangalore had issued a maximum of 14 showcause notices for estimated ‘evasion’ to the tune of Rs 8.85 crore. The highest ‘evasion’ of Rs 37 crore, however, has been detected in the Mumbai region.

The notices were issued to franchises after tax officials accounted for all services provided by various stakeholders. Service tax is levied on franchise fees paid by eight franchises to BCCI, remittances made to UK-based IMG for management and business consultancy services, on payments received by franchises on sale of advertisement space and on income from the sale of game rights.

Sharad Pawar is ICC president

NEW DELHI: Former BCCI president Sharad Pawar has been formally inducted as the International Cricket Council (ICC) president on Thursday.

The former Board of Control for Cricket in India president has taken over from David Morgan as the ICC chief.

Pawar thus became the second Indian to head the ICC after Jagmohan Dalmiya.

The Union Agriculture Minister has the top job in hand as the sub-continent countries to host the 2011 World Cup.

Saina not worried about ranking

Saina not worried about ranking

Hyderabad, June 30: After notching up a hat-trick of international titles, Saina Nehwal is in no hurry to become the numero uno badminton player in the world and now wants to do well in forthcoming World Championships and Commonwealth Games in October. “This year there is the World Championships, Commonwealth Games and also the Asian Games. So I will be working towards that. I did not expect to reach number three ranking, but have reached there and I am quite confident I can also reach number one position. But before that, it is important for me to play well in the World Championships and the Delhi Commonwealth Games,” Saina told PTI.

Saina, who pocketed the hat-trick of titles by defending the Indonesian Open Super Series trophy in Jakarta recently, also made it clear that she had never set deadlines for improve in the world ranking.

“I did not keep a target to reach number three. I thought by this year end I may be at number four or five, but I have reached number three so fast. So, I can be number one or may go down also because I am not playing so many tournaments,” she pointed out.

The 20-year-old, however, feels that there is enough space for further improvement. “A player is never perfect. You have to work hard to keep on improving every time. I have to improve my defence, net, backhands and forehands. I should work on the areas where I am weak,” she said. “The coaches are finding something special. They will try to improve and tell me to learn something new. Right now, I am not thinking of what to do. The plan is to start (practice) from the next week. (PTI)

Irfan Pathan in small screen cameo

New Delhi, June 30: Indian cricketers Parthiv Patel and Irfan Pathan are set to make a cameo appearance on the small screen with SAB TV’s comedy show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. The show has the Gokuldham Premier League (GPL) - a cricket tournament - and the cricketers will be joining the cast for one episode each. They will cheer the two teams of GPL. While Patel will be seen Thursday, Pathan will make an appearance on the episode to be aired July 7, said a press statement from the channel. “Taarak Mehta... is a complete family entertainment serial. It is one of the only TV shows that all of us enjoy watching together as a family. Daya bhabhi is definitely my favourite character in the show. I love her innocence and spirit,” said Pathan. Patel too is excited about being on the show. “I am thoroughly enjoying the GPL season running on the show and very curious to find out who among the teams will win,” he said. The show is based on a popular column called Duniya Ne Undha Chasma written by Gujarati writer Taarak Mehta. (IANS)

My contract renewed with AIFF till 2013: Houghton

NEW DELHI: The controversy surrounding India football coach Bob Houghton's resignation is finally over with the Briton himself announcing that he has struck a deal with the AIFF to continue till 2013.

"I have signed a contract till 2013," Houghton, who had threatened to resign in May after he learnt that the AIFF was looking for a new coach after the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar, said at a press conference on the eve of national team's departure for a two-month training tour of Portugal.

"My plan is to stay after Asian Cup. But like any other coach it's never look beyond a big tournament," said the Briton, tongue in cheek, referring to the continental event which will be a tough test for him and his players.

Houghton is not new to controversy, including the latest resignation drama which hit the headlines two months back, and today also he hit out at the clubs for hampering in the development of Indian football.

He at first expressed satisfaction that the clubs have allowed the players to prepare exclusively for the Asian Cup. But later, he practically laid the blame for national team's poor world ranking to the club bosses.

"There has not been much change in Indian football in the last four years of my coaching career here. The national team's performance depends on the I-League and domestic structure and the clubs do not want to change," he said.

One of the reasons for the sorry state of affairs, Houghton felt, was the composition of the AIFF Executive Committee which has club presidents as its members.

"The Executive Committee has presidents of big clubs as members. So, for example, when I want I-League players not to play in the local leagues, these members don't agree. Ultimately, they take decisions and have voting rights," said the experienced coach.

"I have had several confrontational meeting with the club officials in these four years. I ask them how is that your clubs are more than 100 years old but India are languishing below 130 in FIFA rankings," Houghton, who took over as coach in June 2006, said.

He touched upon his oft-repeated lack of infrastructure in the country and said nothing much will change without addressing this problem.

"I was in Qatar during the Asian Cup draw ceremony and the stadia there were fabulous with all the state-of-the-art facilities. In India we don't have anything. Take the case of Delhi. Ambedkar Stadium is a good venue for the national team but where are the training grounds? During the Nehru Cup last year, the teams had to train at school grounds," he said.

Houghton and 28 national players are leaving at wee hours on Thursday for Portugal for the training tour as part of their preparations for Asian Cup in Qatar next January.

TOI

Mumbai Indians take on Highveld Lions in CLT20 opener

MUMBAI: Indian Premier League 3 runners-up Mumbai Indians, led by batting great Sachin Tendulkar, will face South Africa's Highveld Lions in the opening match of the Airtel Champions League Twenty20 at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on September 10.


Mumbai Indians and IPL's third-placed outfit Royal Challengers Bangalore have been placed in Group B along with Highveld Lions, South Australia Redbacks, and West Indies' representative to be determined in late July.

IPL champions Chennai Super Kings, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, are in Group A alongside the Twenty20 champions from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, the organisers announced on Tuesday.

The final would be held at the Wanderers on September 26 while Durban and Centurion have been awarded the semifinals on September 24 and 25 respectively.

The 10 competing teams have been divided into two groups of five for a round robin phase before the top two teams from each group progress to the semifinals.

Matches have been evenly distributed across the four venues with each hosting at least five fixtures, including the final, the organisers said.

All 23 matches in the tournament would be broadcast in prime time in India starting at 5pm or 9pm IST, as per the schedule.

Group A - Chennai Super Kings, Warriors, Victorian Bushrangers, Wayamba Elevens, Central Stags.

Group B - Mumbai Indians, Highveld Lions, South Australian Redbacks, Royal Challengers Bangalore, West Indies Domestic T20 Champions (To be confirmed)

The complete schedule (all times IST):

Sep 10: Mumbai Indians vs Highveld Lions, Johannesburg 9 pm.

Sep 11: Warriors vs Wayamba Elevens, Port Elizabeth 5 pm; Chennai Super Kings vs Central Stags, Durban 9 pm.

Sep 12: Highveld Lions vs South Australian Redbacks, Centurion 5 pm; Royal Challengers Bangalore vs WI team, Centurion 9 pm.

Sep 13: Warriors vs Victorian Bushrangers, Port Elizabeth 9 pm.

Sep 14: Mumbai Indians vs South Australian Redbacks, Durban 9 pm.

Sep 15: Victorian Bushrangers vs Central Stags, Centurion 5 pm; Chennai Super Kings vs Wayamba Elevens, Centurion 9 pm.

Sep 16: Mumbai Indians vs WI team, Durban 9 pm. Sep 17: South Australian Redbacks vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Durban 9 pm.

Sep 18: Warriors vs Central Stags, Port Elizabeth 5 pm; Chennai Super Kings vs Victorian Bushrangers, Port Elizabeth 9 pm.

Sep 19: Highveld Lions vs WI team, Johannesburg 5 pm; Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Durban 9 pm.

Sep 20: Victorian Bushrangers vs Wayamba Elevens, Centurion 9 pm.

Sep 21: South Australian Redbacks vs WI team, Johannesburg 5 pm; Highveld Lions vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Johannesburg 9 pm.

Sep 22: Wayamba Elevens vs Central Stags, Port Elizabeth 5 pm; Chennai Super Kings vs Warriors, Port Elizabeth 9 pm.

Sep 23: Rest day

Sep 24: Semifinal 1, 1st Group A vs 2nd Group B, Durban 9 pm.

Sep 25: Semifinal 2, 1st Group B vs 2nd Group A, Centurion 9 pm.

Sep 26: Final, Johannesburg 9 pm.

TOI

Australia's Howard fails in ICC leadership bid

SINGAPORE: Former Australia prime minister John Howard has failed in his bid to become the next vice-president of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The 70-year-old Howard had been nominated for the position by Cricket Australia (CA) and New Zealand Cricket (NZC), who have been asked to put forward another candidate by the ICC.

The decision was made on Wednesday at the week-long ICC executive board meeting in Singapore.

"Following lengthy consideration it was recognised that the nomination put forward by Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket did not have sufficient support within the ICC Board. No vote was taken," the sport's governing body said in a statement.

"Under the ICC's regional rotation process... Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket were invited to re-nominate a candidate by August 31, 2010."

Under ICC rules, the vice-president would serve for two years then become president in 2012.

CA and NZC issued a joint statement after the announcement expressing their disappointment at the decision.

"We jointly nominated Mr Howard as a candidate as he possesses significant leadership and administrative skills," CA chairman Jack Clarke and NZC chairman Alan Isaac said in the statement.

"We believe cricket needs to continue to seek excellence and dispassionate independence in the game's global governance.

"We remain convinced it is reasonable for his nomination to be supported by the ICC Executive Board and we are deeply disappointed by the position taken at today's meeting."

The nomination of Howard, who lost the 2007 Australian federal election and retired from politics, had been contentious with earlier newspaper reports indicating that six of the 10 major cricket nations at the Singapore meeting had signed a letter opposing him as a candidate.

Only Australia, New Zealand and England had supported him, the Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian reported on their websites.

In the weeks leading up to the Singapore gathering, the Australian media suggested Howard would struggle to seal the nomination.

One of the reasons given was his criticism of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's regime when he was Australian Prime Minister, with both South Africa and Zimbabwe expected not to give him support.

Sri Lanka cricket authorities had also expressed reservations about his nomination because he did not have the necessary cricketing administrative background.

He also won few friends in Sri Lanka after he questioned the bowling action of test wicket record holder Muttiah Muralitharan.

Howard was also the subject of a public battle between CA and NZC for the nomination, with New Zealand wanting to nominate their former chairman John Anderson for the position before they agreed to Howard.

TOI